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  1. be
    [bē]
    verb
    be (verb)
    is (third person present)
    are (third person present)
    am (third person present)
    was (past tense)
    were (past tense)
    being (present participle)
    been (past participle)
    1. (there is/are)
      exist:
      "there are no easy answers"
      "there once was a man"
      "there must be something wrong"
      "I think, therefore I am"
      Similar:
      exist
      live
      breathe
      draw breath
      have being
      have existence
      be alive
      • occur; take place:
        "the exhibition will be in November"
        "the opening event is on October 16"
        "that was before the war"
        Similar:
        occur
        happen
        take place
        come about
        arise
        crop up
        transpire
        • having the state, quality, identity, nature, role, etc., specified:
          "Amy was 91"
          "the floor was uneven"
          "I want to be a teacher"
          "father was not well"
          "it will be Christmas soon"
          "“Be careful,” Mr. Carter said"
          "his hair's brown"
          • informal
            say:
            "when I got there, they were like “What are you doing here?”"
            verb
            1. used with a present participle to form continuous tenses:
              "they are coming"
              "he had been reading"
              "she will be waiting"
              • used with a past participle to form the passive mood:
                "it was done"
                "it is said"
                "his book will be published"
                • used to indicate something due to happen:
                  "construction is to begin next summer"
                  "I was to meet him at 6:30"
                  • archaic
                    used with the past participle of intransitive verbs to form perfect tenses:
                    "I am returned"
                    "all humanity is fallen"
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                    Pronunciation
                    verb
                    bē
                    Tone

                    Standard

                    Casual

                    Formal

                    Origin
                    Old English bēon, an irregular and defective verb, whose full conjugation derives from several originally distinct verbs. The forms am and is are from an Indo-European root shared by Latin sum and est. The forms was and were are from an Indo-European root meaning ‘remain’. The forms be and been are from an Indo-European root shared by Latin fui ‘I was’, fio ‘I become’, and Greek phuein ‘bring forth, cause to grow’. The origin of are is uncertain.
                    Oxford Languages
                    ·https://languages.oup.com/
                    Translation
                    be
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